Kansas Territorial
Sesquicentennial Commission

Legislation

Kansas Territorial Seal House Bill 2583 created the Kansas Territorial Sesquicentennial Commission and an advisory commission. Governor Bill Graves appointed the Commission to give focus to a commemoration of the seven-year struggle that resulted in the Kansas state motto "to the stars through difficulty" (ad astra per aspera) and led to the entry of Kansas into the United States as the 34th state.

_{Session of 2001}

House Bill No. 2583

_{By Committee on Appropriations}

4 - 4

AN ACT providing for commemoration of the Kansas territorial sesquicentennial; creating the Kansas territorial sesquicentennial commis sion and an advisory commission to assist the commission.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1.
(a) There is created the Kansas territorial sesquicentennial commission. The commission shall be composed of nine residents of the state appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be designated by the governor as chairperson of the commission.
(b) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation or reimbursement of expenses.
(c) The commission is authorized to hire staff sufficient to carry out the purposes of this act.
Section 2.
(a) There is hereby created an advisory committee to assist in the work of the Kansas territorial sesquicentennial commission. The advisory committee shall be composed of the following members:
(1) The executive director of the Kansas state historical society, who shall serve as chairperson of the advisory committee;
(2) the director of the Kansas humanities council or the director's designee;
(3) the director of the Kansas arts commission or the director's designee;
(4) the director of the division of travel and tourism development of the department of commerce and housing or the director's designee;
(5) the commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee;
(6) fifteen members appointed by the governor as follows:
(A) six members of history faculties of universities under the supervision of the state board of regents;
(B) six members of history faculties of community colleges or private colleges or universities in the state;
(C) a representative of the travel industry association of Kansas;
(D) a representative of the Kansas museums association; and
(E) a representative of the territorial Kansas heritage alliance;
(7) two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(8) two members of the public appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives;
(9) two members of the public appointed by the president of the senate; and
(10) two members of the public appointed by the minority leader of the senate.
(b) The chairperson of the advisory committee shall appoint a person to serve as secretary of the committee.
(c) Members of the advisory committee shall serve without compen sation or reimbursement of expenses.
Section 3.
(a) The state motto, ad astra per aspera ("to the stars through difficulties'"), references the seven-year struggle to make the Kansas territory into the 34th star of the United States flag. That struggle shall frame the remembrance of many of the important events in the territorial era that led to statehood, such as territorial elections in 1855, the Battle of Black Jack in 1856, the Lecompton Constitution in 1857, the Marais des Cygnes Massacre in 1858 and many others.
(b) The year 2004 shall be considered the kick-off date for the remembrance and commemoration of the history, heritage and national impact of the Kansas territorial era and, ultimately, for the commemoration in January 2011 of the sesquicentennial of Kansas statehood.
(c) The sesquicentennial of the Kansas territory, 2004, will be commemorated commencing January 2004 during Kansas day ceremonies in Topeka. The Kansas territorial sesquicentennial commission shall prepare an overall program for commemorating the signing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 and plan, encourage, develop and coordinate observances and activities commemorating the creation of the Kansas territory in 1854 and its implications, both positive and negative, for the peoples in the region and for the future. Special consideration will be given to the history, heritage and national impact of the Kansas territorial period.
(d) In preparing its plans and programs, the Kansas territorial sesquicentennial commission shall consider recommendations developed by the advisory committee and local and private groups. The commission may designate special committees with representatives from local and private groups to plan, develop and coordinate specific activities. The advisory committee shall recommend to the commission ways in which Kansans of all ages may become familiar with the events involved in the history of the territorial period in Kansas and the nation.
(e) The Kansas territorial sesquicentennial commission, no later than July 1, 2002, shall submit to the governor a comprehensive report incorporating the commission's specific recommendations for commemoration of the Kansas sesquicentennial and related events. The governor shall transmit the commission's report to the legislature. The report may reccommend activities, including, but not limited to:
(1) The production, publication and distribution of books, pamphlets, films and other education materials on the history, culture and political life of the people in the region during the territorial period;
(2) the development of bibliographical and documentary projects and publications, a website and opther interactive media;
(3) conferences,, convocations, lectures, seminars and other programs;
(4) the development of libraries, museums, historic sites and exhibits, including mobile exhibits;
(5) ceremonies and celebrations commemorating specific events;
(6) programs and activities on the national and international significance of the territorial period in Kansas history;
(7) the issuance of commemorative medals, seals, license plates and certificates of recognition; and
(8) proposals for legislation and administrative action that the com mission considers necessary to carry out the commission's recommendations.
(f) The Kansas territorial sesquicentennial commission, no later than January 15, 2005, shall submit to the governor and the legislature:
(1) A report of all activities sponsored or supported by the commis sion pursuant to this act and recommendations of how the state can support continued territorial sesquicentennial activities and events from 2005 to 2011; and
(2) recommendations for planning the sesquicentennial of Kansas statehood in 2011.
Section 4.
a) In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Kansas territorial sesquicentennial commission shall consult, cooperate with and seek advice from appropriate state agencies, local and public bodies, learned societies and historical, patriotic, philanthropic, civil, professional and related organizations. State agencies shall cooperate with the commission in planning, encouraging, developing and coordinating appropriate commemorative activities.
(b) The chief executive officer of each state university shall cooperate with the commission, especially in the encouragment and coordination of scholarly works and presentations on the history, culture and political activities related to the territorial period in Kansas history.
(c) The state historical society and the state librarian shall cooperate with the commission, especially in the development and displays of exhibits and collection and in the devlopment of bibliographies, catalogs and other materials relevant to the territorial period.
(d) The division of travel and tourism develoment of the department of commerce and housing shall cooperate with the commission in marketing to potential visitors to the state commemorative activities enabling visitors to experience the cultural heritage of Kansas.
Section 5.
(a) The Kansas territorial sesquicentennial commission is hereby authorized and empowered to accept donations, gifts, bequests and other contributions of money to be used in furthering sesquicenten nial activities.
b) (1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the sesquicentennial fund. The chairperson of the Kansas territorial sesquicentennial commission shall remit to the state treasurer all moneys received by or for the commission for the purposes of this act. Upon receipt of the remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury and credit it to the sesquicentennial fund.
(2) Moneys in the sesquicentennial fund shall be expended only for the purposes of this act.
(3) On or before the 10th of each month, the director of accounts and reports shall transfer from the state general fund to the sesquicen tennial fund interest earnings based on:
(A) The average daily balance of moneys in the sesquicentennial fund for the preceding month; and
(B) the net earnings rate for the pooled money investment portfolio for the preceding month.
(4) All expenditures from the sesquicentennial fund shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts upon warrants of the director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers approved by the chair- person of the Kansas territorial sesquicentennial commission for the pur poses set forth in this section.
Sec. 6. The provisions of this act shall expire on July 1, 2005.
Sec. 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the statute book.